How to Protect Yourself from the New “Shoulder Surfing” Scam: Tips from Sparkasse

2024-07-07 17:05:00

1. wa.de
2. consumer

stand: July 7, 2024, 7:05 pm

From: Group Maximilian

Criminals have found a new scam to steal a lot of money. The Sparkasse is now drawing attention to a so-called “shoulder survey”.

Hamm – Dealing with fraudsters is often like a cat and a mouse. While companies and individuals continue to develop new strategies to protect their property from criminal activity, fraudsters are often smart enough to overcome these obstacles. However, a new type of fraud, called “shoulder surfing,” is extremely simple and still brings significant profits to fraudsters.

“Shoulder Surfing”: A simple trick gives fraudsters big money

The translation of “shoulder survey” means “to look over one’s shoulder.” This name is appropriate because this new type of fraud is based on this simple trick. The criminals can get personal data by looking over their shoulders, as the deposit bank explains. These can be secret numbers from credit or debit cards. Even the most complex combinations of letters and numbers offer no protection when passwords are stolen from online accounts.

Fraudsters don’t need to be on site to spy on data

“They maintain their goals while using electronic devices in public every day,” the financial institution says on its website. This could happen, for example, when withdrawing money from an ATM, entering passwords or security codes on a smartphone or at payment terminals when checking out. In the digital world, “shoulder jugglers” often have an easy time of it. The approach of the “whirlwind surfers” can be differentiated based on two aspects:

• Direct observation: The fraudsters look directly over their victim’s shoulder and, for example, see the bank card PIN as it is being typed at the ATM. They then distract their targets at the ATM to steal the bank or credit card. Or the perpetrators pretend the card was removed from the machine. Now the criminals can easily loot the account of the concerned people.
• With help: With this method, the victims are usually more unsuspecting. Instead of directly spying on the data, the criminals observe what is happening from a distance, for example with a camera or binoculars. Videos of finger movements across the smartphone display are often enough to determine the security code, for example.

  Source: Sparkasse

The Sparkasse warns of a new scam – it’s very simple. (Symbolic image) © Michael Gstettenbauer/Imago

What protects against “shoulder magicians”? Sparkasse offers tips

But how can you protect yourself against this scam? The Sparkasse offers helpful tricks and tips:

• When entering passwords and PINs, always make sure that no one is watching you.
• If necessary, cover the keyboard with a hand or object.
• Don’t let bank cards out of your sight.
• Keep a safe enough distance from others.
• If people (presumably) come to you asking for help, ask them to wait until you’re done.
• Check ATMs because: They are a popular vulnerability for criminals. It is not uncommon for fraudsters to install attachments to read magnetic cards or detect card data. If you notice anything unusual, avoid the ATM and notify the bank and/or the police.
• Privacy filters on displays can be an effective defense against fraudsters. Password managers can also help you avoid having to re-enter your password every time. This means there is no risk of your sensitive data being stolen.
• Check the limit to withdraw money from your account.
• If in doubt: cancel the transaction.
• If it’s already too late, your card can be blocked via the national emergency blocking number.

  Source: Sparkasse

Fraudsters face punishment

Such offenses are often referred to as data theft. Strictly speaking, however, this is not true. There is no such thing as “data theft” because the data is usually kept. In fact, the fraudsters illegally spy on the data, copy them and then use it for their own purposes. However, this method is of course punishable: spying on data is punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years. Depending on how the data is misused, higher penalties can also be imposed.

People are becoming more and more victims of fraud when investing in cryptocurrencies. The police have tips on how to avoid falling for the scam.